Rodriguez Becomes A Yankee In Exchange For Farnsworth

NEW YORK (AP) – Ivan Rodriguez was the steady hand for the Florida Marlins when they won the 2003 World Series. A year later, he was the spark that helped turn around the Detroit franchise when nobody wanted to be a Tiger.

The New York Yankees hope he can be a little of both during their push to the playoffs.

The Yankees acquired the 14-time All-Star from the Tigers on Wednesday in exchange for hard-throwing reliever Kyle Farnsworth, a trade that filled glaring holes for both contenders.

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“Honestly, I was shocked by this, but that’s baseball,” Rodriguez said. “Now, I’m just looking forward to playing for the Yankees and maybe I will play against Detroit again in the playoffs.”

In the option year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Tigers in February 2004, Rodriguez will step into the hole in the Yankees’ lineup created by Jorge Posada’s shoulder injury. Posada had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Wednesday and is out for the season.

The 36-year-old Rodriguez, who has won the Gold Glove award 13 times, was hitting .295 with five homers in 82 games this season.

Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Rodriguez are the only three players in baseball history with at least 12 Gold Gloves and a career .300 average or better. Rodriguez has caught 2,142 games, trailing only Carlton Fisk (2,226) and Bob Boone (2,225) in terms of longevity behind the plate.

“He’s still an everyday guy,” Yankees manager Brian Cashman said. “He’s an upgrade in spite of everything we’ve got.”

Rodriguez has said he wants to play next season and beyond, but for now is focusing solely on helping the Yankees catch Tampa Bay and Boston in the AL East.

“It’s going to be very exciting,” he said. “They are in the race, and I’m ready to do my job.”

Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the team didn’t want to trade Rodriguez but had bigger needs in the bullpen. The two teams began discussing the deal early Wednesday and had it wrapped up about six hours later, just as the Yankees were finishing off a 13-3 win over the Orioles.

The Yankees expect Rodriguez to join the team today, when they start a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.

“Pudge has done an outstanding job for us,” Dombrowski told reporters before Detroit played the Cleveland Indians. “I’m sure he was very surprised by this, but for him this is a good situation. He’s going to New York City, and they are in contention.”

The Yankees made their second deal in the week leading up to today’s trade deadline. On Friday, the Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four minor leaguers.

Marte gave the Yankees the freedom to deal Farnsworth.

Farnsworth was 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 45 games, and joins a bullpen in need of reinforcements three days after Todd Jones was removed from the closer role in Detroit.

“It’s always hard, no matter what. Just one of those things you have to deal with,” Farnsworth said in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

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